Patients reluctant to be admitted into Sher-e-Bangla hospital

Staff Reporter, Barishal

Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), the largest public healthcare service provider in the southern region, has emptied owing to fear of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The hospital recently admitted some patients are suspected of having the virus. A visit to SBMCH on Sunday revealed that almost 60 per cent of the hospital’s 1,000 beds were lying vacant.

SBMCH deputy director Dr Abdur Razzak said, “Only 239 patients are admitted in the indoor wards of the hospital. Earlier, a fourth of the hospital beds were occupied on regular days. Fewer patients are now visiting the hospital for outpatient services as well, though the reduction is less than for indoor admission.” Selena Akter, a nurse on duty in the male surgery ward, said, “Only 13 patients are occupying the 58-bed ward at present. Earlier, the occupancy rate was more than double this.”

SBMCH director Dr Bakir Hossain said, “Four patients suspected of having COVID-19 are being treated at the hospital's coronavirus isolation unit.” There are no coronavirus testing facilities at the hospital. None of the patients has yet been diagnosed with the infection following tests conducted by the Dhaka Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

“One thousand sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have already been supplied for distribution among service providers and more such equipment will reach us soon,” he added. The SBMCH director also said, “Most patients are staying away from the hospital fearing coronavirus transmission unless their case is severe.” “SBMCH generally admits 1,900–2,000 patients to its indoor wards on a daily basis, but now that number has reduced to 450–500 a day,” he said.

“The number of patients seeking outpatient services has also reduced drastically. The daily average was 1,200 to 1,500 before March 16. But the figure has reduced to 200–250 patients on average over the last five days,” said Dr Sudip Haldar, president of the Doctors’ Association of SBMCH.

Barishal’s divisional health director Dr Basudev Chandra Das said, “Since March 10, about 3,000 individuals had observed home-quarantine. Of them, 1,300 had been released from six districts of Barishal till Sunday.” No coronavirus-positive patient has been identified in the district till the time of publication of this report.

Patients reluctant to be admitted into Sher-e-Bangla hospital

Staff Reporter, Barishal

Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), the largest public healthcare service provider in the southern region, has emptied owing to fear of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The hospital recently admitted some patients are suspected of having the virus. A visit to SBMCH on Sunday revealed that almost 60 per cent of the hospitals 1,000 beds were lying vacant.
SBMCH deputy director Dr Abdur Razzak said, Only 239 patients are admitted in the indoor wards of the hospital. Earlier, a fourth of the hospital beds were occupied on regular days. Fewer patients are now visiting the hospital for outpatient services as well, though the reduction is less than for indoor admission. Selena Akter, a nurse on duty in the male surgery ward, said, Only 13 patients are occupying the 58-bed ward at present. Earlier, the occupancy rate was more than double this.
SBMCH director Dr Bakir Hossain said, Four patients suspected of having COVID-19 are being treated at the hospitals coronavirus isolation unit. There are no coronavirus testing facilities at the hospital. None of the patients has yet been diagnosed with the infection following tests conducted by the Dhaka Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
One thousand sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have already been supplied for distribution among service providers and more such equipment will reach us soon, he added. The SBMCH director also said, Most patients are staying away from the hospital fearing coronavirus transmission unless their case is severe. SBMCH generally admits 1,9002,000 patients to its indoor wards on a daily basis, but now that number has reduced to 450500 a day, he said.
The number of patients seeking outpatient services has also reduced drastically. The daily average was 1,200 to 1,500 before March 16. But the figure has reduced to 200250 patients on average over the last five days, said Dr Sudip Haldar, president of the Doctors Association of SBMCH.
Barishals divisional health director Dr Basudev Chandra Das said, Since March 10, about 3,000 individuals had observed home-quarantine. Of them, 1,300 had been released from six districts of Barishal till Sunday. No coronavirus-positive patient has been identified in the district till the time of publication of this report.